Weymouth Pavilion to Shine a Light on Huntington's Disease

Published on:Monday 29th April 2019

Bringing Huntington’s disease out of the shadows for Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month in May 2019.

Weymouth Pavilion will be lighting up in pink and green from Thursday 2ndMay – Wednesday 8th May to raise awareness of Huntington’s disease. Supported by the Huntington’s Disease Association and in conjunction with #LightItUp4HD, throughout May 2019 buildings and landmarks will be lit up around the UK and across the globe to shine a light on Huntington’s.

The Huntington’s Disease Association is a national charity supporting people affected by Huntington’s disease across England and Wales. Huntington’s is a rare neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system and is caused by a faulty gene passed down through families with each child of a parent with Huntington’s having a 50% chance of inheriting it. Described as having motor neurone disease, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease all at the same time, Huntington’s disease causes changes in the brain affecting movement, feelings, thinking, eating and speech. There are around 8000 people in the UK with Huntington’s and around 32,000 at risk of developing it.

Last year iconic landmarks across the UK such as the Blackpool tower and the Emirates Spinnaker tower in Portsmouth took part, while internationally even Niagara Falls participated! The public also has the chance to light up their homes with our #LightItUpForHD packs which include a green/pink light to place in the windows of homes.

Cath Stanley, Chief Executive of the Huntington’s Disease Association, said: “Huntington's disease has long been in the shadow of stigma. We are delighted so many buildings, landmarks and homes lit up for Huntington's last year and look forward to seeing even more this year. By bringing the disease into the light and raising public awareness we have two main aims: to show families affected by Huntington's they are not alone, and secondly to raise awareness amongst the public of this incredibly cruel disease which can have a devastating impact on people with Huntington’s and their families.”